The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1887-05-21
A Criminal Investigation.

blown ut Darts Shoe factory wnen
Annie Nelga came running up the
street, painting and red of face. John
Dart, standing on the steps talking
with two strangers, smiled as she
came up and said, in slightly sur
prised tone:
"You are late this morning, Miss
Velga-something never before
known"
ayes, sir. am sorry, but | over
slept myself"
"Up late last night-had a beau,
perhaps ?" suggested John, roguish-
ly.
No, sir" retorted Annie, promptly
and rather snappishly, for even
though he was the nephew of VIII
liam Dart, the great shoe man, and
the prospective heir to all his wealth
she considered he was taking a lib
erty, especially before strangers.
Perhaps pretty and prim little Annie
had some other reason, too, for re-
senting his remark.
pretty girl" said one of the
strangers after she had passed.
Yes" assented John, "and about
the neatest, quickest girl ever in the
work-room," and then the stranger
began talking again very earnestly,
as before Annie came up the steps.
well" said John, "of course you
may satisfy yourself, but l can tell
you beforehand there is not one of
our girls whom we do not trust. 1t
will take you about all day, for they
live in all directions from here, if
you have to search their rooms. As
uncle says, | must go with you in
that case, the sooner it is over the
better for me-" Then they all three
went upstairs to the girls work
room.
"Will those who stopped at Din
gus jewelry store last night on the
way home from work please stand
up?" said John. Over half of them
stood up, while John took down
their names and the numbers of
their rooms and the detectives
watched each face keenly. So far
no one was disturbed by a guilty
conscience. After ascertaining bey-
ond a doubt that all who had been
in the store reported, John announ-
ced
"We have received word that Il
valuable amount Of jewelry was
stolen from this firm last night at
about the hour you We're there, there
fore suspicion has fallen upon you,
and each girl must allow her room
to be searched, if the goods are not
previously found upon her person"
So the search began. A quiet,
trusty girl, much older than the
Others, and who had not been with
them the evening before, was APP
pointed to conduct the personal in
vestigation in another room. One
after another left the work-room to
return in few minutes declared in
until the officers were salts
fled none of the goods were at the
factory.
Now" said John, when the last
girl had returned, "will each one of
you give me your keys in turn, for |
must accompany this officer in his
search while the other remains
here.n
"Not this morning" spoke up
Annie Velga, quickly, while the
smart detective felt the jewels in his
grasp, so to speak, and the reward
in his pockets. John looked sur
said he turned trihe
pale as he looked into Annie's flush
ed, guilty face.
"Yes, of course, this morning" he
gravoly "What differ
ence is it, Miss Annie?"
"None," answered Annie, hastily;
but as John took her key the detec-
tive, thinking it best to search her
room at once, instead of in her turn,
she burst out crying and seemed so
broken down the remaining officer
felt justified in placing her under ar
rest.
John had visited Annie's room be-
fore, just once, not many evenings
before. He had taken her Il book to
read and small basket of fruit,
that as neat Il way to begin
his courtship. as any. He had
thought as he left that evening it
was the prettiest, brightest little
room he had ever seen, far exceed
ing any in his uncle's grand man
sion. He had little thought that
the next time he climbed the stairs to
room No. % would be upon such
painful errand. He could not be-
lieve sweet little Annie guilty until
it was proved, yet he climbed the
steps unwillingly, and with more un.